Uber has created a thriving black market for flashing 'U' signs

Uber drivers are doing all they can to get their hands on
flashing blue "U" signs to display on the windscreens of their
cars. But Uber has asked drivers in the UK not to buy the signs,
creating a thriving black market for online sellers.

It can be tricky to spot your Uber arriving to pick you up —
especially if it's dark. Sure, Uber tells you the make of the car
and its numberplate, but it's not always easy. That's why Uber
drivers want a way to make their cars stand out to customers.

Uber says it gave out a "handful" of the blue Uber lights to
drivers in Manchester in 2014. They're nice to have — it reduces
waiting time and acts as a safety measure, preventing people from
getting into the wrong car. But one of Uber's competitors
complained about the lights and the company pulled them from the
UK.

Here's a photo of one of Uber's official lights via a
listing on eBay:

Now, drivers in London are attempting to buy the lights
second-hand, without Uber's blessing. Sellers are using eBay and
custom-built websites to advertise that they have the official
Uber signs up for sale.

Here's what you would see if your Uber driver is using one of the
U signs:

British website Uber London
Minicab was built with one purpose: Selling the "U" lights.
It describes the LED light as "UBER bright" and lists the lights
for sale at a £20 asking price (with a £10 tracked delivery
charge.) Despite Uber never having handed out the signs in
London, the seller lists his location as being in the
city.

An Uber spokesman provided this statement to Business Insider UK
about the trade in Uber lights:

Uber lights are something we have in some cities outside of the
UK as an additional safety measure, as it means the customer can
more easily identify the Uber car quickly at night, minimising
the amount of time they are waiting around on the street. We have
never given these lights out in London or Leeds. We did give
these out to a handful of drivers in Manchester when we launched
in early 2014 but following a competitor complaint we stopped
handing them out and asked partner-drivers to take them down.
Given this, we would advise drivers not to purchase these lights
in the UK.

It's not just in London that the lights are being advertised.
They're also being sold in the US.

Here's what you see on eBay in the US when you search for
"Uber sign":

eBay

The first and third listings are for custom-built Uber signs
created by people looking to cash in on the Uber sign market. The
second listing appears to be an official Uber sign (they're still
handed out in some US cities). And the final listing is for a
Lyft sign. Many Uber drivers also use Lyft to pick up extra rides
while they're working.

Uber drivers are even taking to unofficial discussion forums to
try and find the sought-after "U" lights. Uber People is a forum
where Uber drivers are able to talk (and complain) about Uber
freely. On the forum, one
user asked about buying a U light: